What we do

The Scottish Women’s Budget Group is an
independent campaigning and research group which believes in greater equality
for women and men in Scotland. We are committed to the promotion of
gender analysis in all of government budget processes, and we seek to engage
with the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government to change the way
decisions are made about how public money is spent.

Women and men use public services differently
– they have different life experiences and face different economic realities
and challenges. Women are often disadvantaged by policies that do not recognise
these different experiences. We
hope that by working with women, communities, statutory and voluntary agencies,
trades unions and other partners – including government – we can make public
spending more effective and responsive to the lives of women in Scotland.

The
SWBG regularly submits a response to Scottish Government spending plans and
also responds to other Government consultation documents that may have an
impact on the allocation of public funds. We submit these responses after consulting with members of the group and
other organisations who share our vision of gender equality in public
spending. We have provided
evidence to Scottish Parliament Committees and advice to Scottish Government
departments.

The SWBG is
also happy to provide information on gender budget analysis to any other
initiatives or groups across Scotland who are also seeking to influence policy
on public services – the services that matter to everyone – such as health
services, housing, education and transport.